Monday, Jan 05, 2004
Monday, Jan 05, 2004 |
| Sport | ||||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Sport
-
Cricket
By Vijay Lokapally
GILCHRIST IS GONE: Irfan Pathan sends the bails flying.
India 705 for seven decl.
The farewell Test for Steve Waugh is fast turning out to be a nightmare for Australia with the Indians having a glorious opportunity to win the match and the series. With two days left, Australia — with four wickets in hand — needs another 164 runs to make India bat again as Ganguly and his men tightened their grip on the contest with an improved bowling performance. The cushion of a massive target worked in India's favour and Kumble once again brought his experience to the fore this afternoon. It was the leg-spinner who set the stage for the visitor to possibly dominate the remaining two days. His spell was in keeping with his form on this tour and Kumble vindicated his selection with another fine exhibition of intelligent bowling. His nagging accuracy was too much for the Australians who succumbed to their desire of playing positively. They needed a grafter to tackle Kumble who was reluctantly chosen for this tour. The gentleman cricketer from Bangalore has proved his immense value to the team again, this time outside the spinning tracks of the sub-continent. India did everything right today. The declaration came at the right time after two wickets had fallen and the bowlers did remarkably well to recover from the blistering pace of Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden, who plundered 161 runs in the second session. The Indian attack looked pedestrian when Hayden and Langer were on song before both played poor shots to invite trouble. The Indian innings lasted a little over half-an-hour during which Parthiv Patel smashed the ball around to register his maiden Test half-century. Sachin Tendulkar, 220 overnight, remained unconquered on 241 and was accorded a standing ovation as he made his way back to the dressing room. It was a monumental effort by a man who had struggled to make runs on this tour. It also helped India pass the 700-run mark for the first time in Tests. The Australians began in characteristic fashion and there was nothing to suggest that they were under pressure. Langer displayed his wide repertoire of shots, employing the sweep to good effect against the spinners. The Australians are not known to play with a defensive mindset and this was the biggest challenge for Waugh's team. "Never played for a draw mate,'' said an elderly spectator, even as the Australian openers batted as if they were pursuing a target to win the match. The ball flew in all directions as India struggled for ideas.
Amazing transformation
For a batsman known to graft in his initial years, Langer has changed his game dramatically and is now aggression personified. He did not like the tag of a grafter and made a conscious effort to attack right from the beginning. The English county stints have contributed to raise Langer's confidence in his ability to dominate the bowling, in accordance with Australia's gameplan in the last few years. Langer made his 17th Test century today, an entertaining and significant knock for his team. It became increasingly difficult for Ganguly to set a field as Langer picked gaps at will. Some erratic bowling also helped the Australian cause at this stage. Langer picked the line early to play the sweep and Hayden warmed up after a sluggish start. They were particularly harsh on left-arm spinner Murali Kartik, who went for 33 in his first three overs. Kartik was given a similar treatment when he returned after a tight spell from Kumble, the latter losing his temper initially but quickly recovering his poise to command respect from the batsmen. The final session witnessed a fascinating battle between Kumble and Australia. First, he provided the breakthrough removing Hayden, who played a reckless swipe against a ball which stopped, the resultant edge flying to mid-off. It was the opening the Indians needed and Hayden's dismissal opened the floodgates for Kumble to rattle the Aussie camp. At the other end, Langer kept sweeping the ball with disdain. His footwork enabled him to play the spinners with confidence and the reverse sweep with which he reached his century was an emphatic statement about his form. Unfortunately, Langer decided to take on the best bowler of the day — Kumble — and his attempted sweep rose in an arc and Patel followed it to finish the catch in front of the square-leg umpire. This was a crucial blow to Australia's hopes of saving the follow-on.
Perfect plan
Ricky Ponting then fell to a well-executed ploy by Kumble, who first set him up before slipping in a top-spinner to leave the batsman in a trance. It was a gem of a ball from Kumble to get rid of a batsman who had come into this Test with two back-to-back double centuries. Damien Martyn's indifferent form was exploited by Kumble who stunned him with a slower one, the ball stopping and the bowler gleefully accepting the return catch. Waugh was patchy, playing some confident strokes and also some desperate ones, all along giving the impression of pressure building on him. Pathan had his scalp as the batsman played from the crease to edge behind. Waugh departed to the second standing ovation of the day after Tendulkar's, with a distinct possibility of returning to bat one more time in his career. Simon Katich made a brisk unbeaten half-century laced with some well-timed strokes. It was a satisfying day for the Indians as the bowlers took over the mantle of dominating the Australians. The energetic Pathan dealt a lethal blow to the host in the penultimate over with a swinging yorker that shocked Adam Gilchrist. It was a sensational delivery which amply reflected the way this Test was swinging.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | Home |
Copyright © 2004, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
